Tag Archive: Tau Herculids in 2017

During this period the moon will reach its first quarter phase on Saturday December 15th. At this time the half-illuminated moon will set between 11-12am local standard time for observers in mid-northern latitudes. This will compromise evening observations of meteors but the more active morning hours will be unaffected. As the week progresses the waxing gibbous moon will set later and later, limiting the time of truly dark sky to the hours just before dawn.

During this period the moon will wax from a slender crescent phase to nearly half illuminated. This will be a great time to view meteor activity as the moon will have set by the time the more active morning hours arrive. The moon will be present during the evening hours but successful meteor observing is still possible during this time by simply keeping the moon out of your field of view.

Year in and year out the Geminids are currently the most dependable meteor shower. Unfortunately, they are active in December when temperatures are often cold and skies cloudy in the northern hemisphere. If this shower peaked in August it would be much more popular, but the radiant would then lie much closer to the sun and Geminid meteors would only be visible in the few hours preceding dawn.

During this period the moon will reach its new phase on Friday December 7th. At this time the moon will be located near the sun and will be invisible at night. This weekend the waning crescent moon will rise during the early morning hours but successful meteor observing is still possible by simply keeping the moon out of your field of view.

During the period of December 3-5 2011, the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar installation observed strong activity from a source on the Andromeda/Cassiopeia border. After a lengthy analysis it was determined that these meteors were produced by Comet 3D/Biela during its passage though the inner solar system in 1649. This is the same comet that produced the magnificent Andromedid displays of 1872 and 1885.

During this period the moon will reach its last quarter phase on Thursday November 29th. At this time the moon will be located 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise near midnight local standard time. This weekend the waning gibbous moon will rise shortly after dusk making it difficult to view meteor activity the remainder of the night.

During this period the moon will reach its full phase on Friday November 23rd. At this time the moon will be located opposite the sun and will lie above the horizon all night long. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will set during the early morning hours allowing a few hours of observations before the start of morning twilight.

The AMS has received over 95 reports so far about of a fireball event seen above Texas on November 15th, 2018 around 21:25am CDT (November 16th 3:25 Universal Time). The fireball was seen primarily from Texas but was also seen from Louisiana and Oklahoma.

During this period the moon will reach its first quarter phase on Thursday November 15th. At this time the half-illuminated moon will be located in the early evening sky and will set near midnight local standard time (LST). This weekend the waxing crescent moon will set during the early evening hours allowing meteor observations under perfect conditions during the more active morning hours.

The AMS has received over 375 reports so far about of a fireball event seen above Missouri on November 2nd, 2018 around 7:25pm CDT (November 3rd 00:25 Universal Time). The fireball was seen primarily from Missouri but was also seen from Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

During this period the moon will reach its new phase on Wednesday November 7th. At this time the moon will be located near the sun and will be invisible at night. This weekend the waning crescent moon will rise during the early morning hours but will not cause any problems viewing meteors as long as you keep it out of your field of view.

During this period the moon will reach its last quarter phase on Wednesday October 31st. At this time the moon will be located 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise between 2200 and 2300 local daylight saving time (DST). This weekend the bright waning gibbous moon will rise during the early evening hours and will spoil the remainder of the night by obscuring all but the brighter meteors.

The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 3 for those viewing from the northern hemisphere and 2 for those located south of the equator. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 18 as seen from mid-northern latitudes and 13 from the southern tropics. Rates are reduced during this period due to moonlight.

During this period the moon will reach its new phase on Tuesday October 16th. At this time the moon will be located 90 degrees east of the sun and will set near midnight local daylight saving time (DST). This weekend the waxing crescent moon will set during the late evening hours leaving the remainder of the night nice and dark for meteor observing.

The AMS has received over 70 reports so far about of a fireball event seen above Florida on October 6th, 2018 around 10:20pm EDT (October 7th 02:20 Universal Time). The fireball was seen primarily from Florida but was also seen from South Carolina and Georgia.

During this period the moon will reach its new phase on Tuesday October 9th. At this time the moon will be located near the sun and will be invisible at night. This weekend the waning crescent moon will rise just before dawn and will not interfere with viewing meteor activity.

During this period the moon will reach its last quarter phase on Tuesday October 2nd. At this time the moon will be located 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise between 2300 (11pm) and 0000 (midnight) local summer time (LST). This weekend the waning gibbous moon will rise during the late evening hours. This will hamper meteor observations the remainder of the night as the bright moonlight will obscure all but the brightest meteors. Conditions improve with each passing night as the moon wanes and rises later.

During this period the moon will reach its first quarter phase on Sunday September 16th. At that time the moon will lie 90 degrees east of the sun and will set near midnight local daylight saving time (LDT). As the week progresses the waxing gibbous moon will set later and later, shrinking the window of opportunity to view meteor activity under dark skies.

During this period the moon will reach its new phase on Sunday September 9th. At that time the moon will lie near the sun in the sky and will be invisible at night. As the week progresses the waxing crescent moon will enter the evening sky but will not interfere with viewing meteor activity.

During this period the moon will reach its last quarter phase on Monday September 3rd. At that time the moon will lie 90 degrees west of the sun in the sky and will rise near midnight local daylight saving time (LDT) as seen from mid-northern latitudes. As the week progresses the waning crescent moon will rise later with each passing night, creating more favorable viewing conditions.

Meteor Showers

Next major shower peak:

The Ursids are often neglected due to the fact it peaks just before
Christmas and the rates are much less than the Geminds, which peaks
just a week before the Ursids. Observers will normally see 5-10 Ursids
per hour during the late morning hours on the date of maximum
activity. There have been occasional…

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The American Meteor Society, Ltd. is a non-profit scientific organization founded in 1911 and established to inform, encourage, and support the research activities of both amateur and professional astronomers who are interested in the fascinating field of Meteor Astronomy. Our affiliates observe, monitor, collect data on, study, and report on meteors, meteor showers, fireballs, and related meteoric phenomena. Please note that the AMS does not deal in meteorites.

Comments and Questions may be directed to the AMS Operations Manager Mike Hankey.